You always hear how marketing departments spend billions of dollars selling to kids and stocking shelves with recognizable characters, from Elsa to Spiderman. These tactics have led some parents to avoid commercial toys for kids and advertising whenever possible, fearing the repercussions, from obesity to lack of creative play.
Yet here I was, actively selecting a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles water bottle for my five-year-old.
I wasn't always like this. I was the opposite, eschewing commercial toys, clothes and books in favor of their generic counterparts.
Any characters that made its … [Read more...]

If you're bored playing with your kids, don't worry: here are ways to bust the boredom and have fun.
Have you seen those parents who engage so well with their kids?
They read children's books with inflection and change their voices for each character.
They rough house with gusto and never seem to tire.
And they build intricate structures out of Lego and wooden blocks.
Then there's me.
I'm not always good at playing with my kids. Sitting still and solving a puzzle is a challenge, especially when I have a zillion other things to do. I'm affectionate, but I find yourself … [Read more...]

Inside: Learn how to encourage open-ended play and the benefits from playing with no limits.
Yesterday, my five-year-old opened a carton of Jenga and started building structures. One was his stuffed dog's house, another was a fountain. And one had double doors that you push with a button and automatically opens.
Jenga blocks aren't "meant" to be built into structures, much less a dog's house or a fountain. My son found toys that cultivated his creativity and imagination—with no instruction manual needed.
Get more tips about encouraging your child's creativity.
What is open-ended … [Read more...]

Do you let your kids play with toy guns? Are toy guns ever okay? Discuss whether toy guns—even as play things—should be allowed and encouraged.
Like many parents, I made a few vows against vices before giving birth to my son, such as no TV, no junk food, no sleep training, no kid clutter and no taking them to the groceries or the mall. Some I abide by but most are now laughable. As it happens, one of those vows included no playing with toy guns. Well, turns out we have toy guns... sort of.
Before I get into our toy guns (yes, plural), below are a few reasons I didn't want them:
I … [Read more...]

Children benefit from playing on their own and using their imagination. Read the reasons why, and how to encourage independent play with your children.
I decided early on that I wanted my son to learn and enjoy how to play on his own besides playing with others. Sure, alone time provides me a breath in a normally busy day. But the benefits of independent play extend most importantly to my toddler:
Privacy
Without a watchful eye, kids are free to play without fear of embarrassment or judgment. My toddler even pushes me away or asks me to go back to where I was so he can continue playing … [Read more...]

Your kids shouldn't be sedentary for more than an hour at a time. Here are several ideas for an active toddler, both indoors and outdoors.
“Let’s go for a walk around the block,” I suggested to my two-year-old today. He ran to the front door to put his shoes and hat on, and off we went for a 40-minute stroll up and down our neighborhood.
As simple as a walk may be, I rely on similar activities to make sure my little guy gets movement every day. I've learned how to keep a toddler active, from simple exercise to bigger outings.
We don’t need to push our kids to be active. Leave them to … [Read more...]

Children learn so much through role playing and imaginative play. Without restricting rules or predefined characters, learn the many benefits of toddler pretend play.
My toddler has been subjecting Morris the Monkey to eat play dough "sweet potatoes," complete with a bib he insists the poor monkey wear. He'll also tear the play dough into pieces, just like how his mom and dad dice or mash his food for him. And of course Morris' meal isn't complete without a cup of milk and water to wash his meal down.
What is toddler pretend play?
Toddler pretend play is, in its essence, your … [Read more...]

You see other kids playing with toys and at the park the way they're supposed to. Here's why it's not so bad when your child doesn't play the right way.
My toddler doesn't always play the "right way." For instance, he complains when I try to sit him in a swing. Instead, he wants to be on the ground so he can pull the swing, let go and watch it sway back and forth. Each time, he squeals with delight as if he just discovered the best game ever.
How my child doesn't play the right way
My then-toddler would use his fire truck not to ride it, but to scrutinize its wheels or fiddle with … [Read more...]

Disclaimer: Sleeping Should Be Easy and its content are for informational purposes only and should never be used as a substitute for advice from a qualified professional.
Disclosure: Per FTC guidelines, this website may be compensated by companies mentioned through advertising, affiliate programs, or otherwise.